[ NFL JUNIOR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ]
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Vince Manuwai oversaw drills at a camp yesterday at Aiea High School.
Manuwai gives back
The UH alumnus, now an NFL
starter, returns to work
with youngsters
Vince Manuwai of the Jacksonville Jaguars seems to be the same guy as Vince Manuwai of the Hawaii Warriors.
Strong, successful and humble.
But he may have helped change some of the 130 youngsters he spoke to at the Aiea High School football field yesterday.
The NFL concluded the last of three six-day Junior Player Development sessions, yesterday at Aiea. The players got a crash course on some of what will be expected of them if they play high school football ... and a pep talk from a real, live NFL player who was not that much different than them 10 years ago.
A 20-minute address by Manuwai, who is going into his second season at guard for the Jaguars, echoed what the high school coaches were trying to teach the 12- to 14-year-olds, one of whom came all the way from Nevada.
Kenson Miyaki, who will be a freshman at Moanalua in a few weeks, got the message.
"Work as a team, try hard, do good in school," said Miyaki, when asked what he learned from Manuwai's talk.
The former UH captain emphasized that without school, there is no high school football.
"When I started to get good grades, it was a good feeling, and it became a habit," Manuwai said. "Then I got the offer to UH. Wow, more chances to play football. Pros was on my mind then, but I knew it wasn't a guaranteed thing.
"It came down to choices I made. And if I didn't listen to my coaches, I probably wouldn't be here."
Manuwai never played organized football until he was a freshman at Farrington. He was too heavy to play Pop Warner. The JPD program gives such youngsters an opportunity to learn football skills. The players are divided into three groups by size, and they all rotate to drills for every position.
"Once you guys hit high school, you're going to be far ahead. I would've loved to have had something like this," said Manuwai, who reports to Jaguars camp next week.
The program, which was also held at Moanalua and Campbell this summer, is free. The youngsters get to keep a jersey, mouthpiece, T-shirt, duffle bag and football. Helmets and pads will be used again next year. The NFL plans to supply more equipment next year, so the program can expand to the entire state eventually.
"It's part of the NFL's $150 million campaign to promote youth participation in football," said Hawaii High School Athletic Association director Keith Amemiya, who is overseeing the program as a member of the Pro Bowl Ohana committee.
High school coaches like Wendell Say of state champion Aiea donated their time and expertise. They received printed and DVD outlines from the NFL to help them design the workouts.
"It's been a great experience," Say said. "I see it in my own son."
Kalei Say, 12, plays for the Wahiawa Thunderbolts, and his father thinks he will be more inspired this season.
"Normally, he just goes through the motion," the father said. "But he told me he's having a lot of fun. I think what he likes most is he gets a chance at every position."
